How To Make A Simple Kaleidoscope for Kids

Learn how to create a kaleidoscope for summer STEAM. This STEAM activity for young kids encourages the sense of sight! We spent a fun morning designing and crafting our simple kaleidoscope for summer play and learning. This kid’s kaleidoscope uses every component of STEAM to create a cool, homemade science toy.

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE KALEIDOSCOPE FOR KIDS

What is STEAM? Everyone is buzzing about STEAM! Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. These 5 areas of learning are so wonderfully intertwined and offer amazing learning opportunities for kids of all ages. Read more about it here.

I chose to make a simple kaleidoscope for the sense of sight, but I had no idea where to begin. A bit of searching led me to find several ideas where I would need to purchase items like prisms, glass, plastic etc. Hmm, not going to work for us!

I wanted to use what I had for a simple kaleidoscope perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and even early elementary age kids. I found a very helpful idea here that served as a guide. You can find simple step by step directions similar but slightly different from mine below.

SUPPLIES

Pringles can {without chips}

Shimmery scrap-book paper or aluminum foil

Hammer and nail

Clear glue

Tissue paper, glitter, and sequins

WHAT’S THE SIMPLE SCIENCE?

Since we didn’t have a prism or mirrors for our kaleidoscope, our science lesson was pretty basic. We discussed the reflection of light. When the light comes in, it bounces off the shimmery paper and is reflected back out in the direction it came in. This creates the colors and patterns. He pointed out all the colors he could see as he twisted the lid.

LEARN HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE KALEIDOSCOPE

Get started on your simple kaleidoscope right away!

If you are going to use one of these tubular chips canister, remove chips {eat of necessary}, rinse, and dry the can!

First, I rolled a piece of shimmery silver paper and put it inside can. Mark and cut off excess. I did not have to tack it down as it uncurled nicely to fit the inside the can.

Next, I covered the outside in a shimmery purple paper {or you can paint it!} and secured it with tape. Decorate if you like with markers, stickers, tape, and other embellishments!

Use a hammer and nail to punch an eye hole in the sealed end of the can.

We added a step to our simple kaleidoscope by gluing sequins on the inside of the Pringle’s can lid.

I mixed clear glue with a bit of water and glitter, lots of glitter. We tore and cut tissue paper to glue to the outside of the lid.

Your simple kaleidoscope needs one more thing, A second colorful lens!

For this you want to use contact paper. I cut a square and taped it sticky side up to the table. He added a little bit of everything. I pressed another piece of contact paper over the top to seal it.

Use scissors and cut the contact paper to fit your can. You will be putting the lid on over this, so make sure it is a close fit.

Next you want to glue it to top of can. Our regular Elmer’s glue worked fine.

It’s very important to let everything dry really well. Put the lid on your simple kaleidoscope and head outside.

PLAY AND LEARN

Twist the lid as you point the kaleidoscope up towards the sun. The fixed lens underneath the lid stays in place while the outside lid spins around it mixing all sorts of shimmering colors! The brighter the light the cooler it looks. We tested this of course!

NOTE: Please help your child and never encourage looking directly into the sun.

SIMPLE KALEIDOSCOPE KIDS CAN MAKE FROM THE RECYCLING BIN!

Simple ways to take STEAM outdoors this summer. Click on photos for details.

I have to point out that this is a potentially dangerous concept. Pointing objects at the sun and exposing young retinas to direct light is risky with huge potential downsides. Even if well-made the object is risky; if poorly constructed it could be downright dangerous. The site’s owners need to have very high public liability insurance!

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We LOVE science! We LOVE Slime, and we LOVE all things STEM related. Join us on our journey to discover just how cool science can be. Want to know how to get started? Click on any of the images or menu options!